In their nude protest in Delhi, Tamil Nadu farmers to attempt suicide

New Delhi, Sep 12: In their last ditch effort to attract the attention of the Centre towards their plight, protesting farmers from Tamil Nadu are all set to take out a nude protest in the national capital on Tuesday. The agitating farmers also plan to attempt suicide during the protest rally.

The farmers from Tamil Nadu have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for nearly two months now. It was the 58th day of their protest on Monday.

Farmers of Tamil Nadu during one of their protests in the national capital

On Sunday, the farmers ate human excreta to attract the Centre's attention. They are camping in the national capital and protesting to demand drought relief funds and loan waivers, among other things.

On Monday, they marched near Jantar Mantar clad in just loin cloths, demanding a Rs 40,000 crore drought relief package, insurance for their crops and the setting up of a Cauvery Management Board by the Centre. The Parliament Street Police detained around 25 farmers.

Farmers' leader P Ayyakkannu said, "They detained us without citing any reasons. No one has the right to stop people from protesting."

"Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will take out a nude procession. If our demands are not met, we will even commit suicide by slitting our throats," he threatened.

A senior official from the Parliament Street Police Station said the farmers were detained after they started stripping on the protest street in Jantar Mantar where women were also demonstrating.

In their first round of protests earlier this year, they had shaved their heads and half their moustaches, held mice and snakes in their mouths, conducted mock funerals, flogged themselves and even carried skulls of other farmers who had committed suicide due to debt pressure.

The first phase of the protest of Tamil Nadu farmers ended after the passage of more than 40 days on April 23. They agreed to end their agitation--which also saw a nude protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office--after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami assured them to address all their concerns.

However, that did not happen and that is why they have to again come back to Delhi to make the authorities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, listen to their plight and do something about it.

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